Lets go fishing

The Fish BOM is nearing its conclusion.  Fish number 13 is completed.  An elderly lady fish I have named Constance has entered the ocean to reign supreme over her younger relatives. 

Not long now until I can put this quilt together!

January sewing

Today is Australia Day; today is the day my daughter has become an Australian citizen.  In recognition of that fact I made a wall hanging for her ... it is in the post!  This project took a lot of time, hence my lack of postings. 

I did manage a few small projects as relief from plugging away at the wall-hanging.  A girl needs a diversion every so often.

 

A mug rug where the theme was cats or dogs had me practising my foundation piecing, and to be honest I found it hard to part with the cool cat.  Foundation piecing is fun, though I am not sure I would care to tackle a large project!  The cat, dressed in his 'night prowling' clothes didn't take long;  there were no signs of incomprehension as may have happened this time last year.  Pushing oneself to not only tackle a new method, but to keep at until it becomes less stressful and more normal.

 

 

The Quilter's Cache offers patchwork blocks, some simple, some difficult.  This year I am attempting to complete two quilt tops using blocks from this site.  Both these quilts are BOM's; one block, the House that Jack Built, is completed.   

This was the year when I intended to complete unfinished projects, but already I have a mental list of new projects that I fear will take up much of the time I had mentally set aside as 'finishing time'.  Oh well, 'tis just as well I never made that a New Year's resolution!!

Scottish themed Quilt and fish

A combination today!  Not fish and chips [too expensive in Australia!], but another fish in the BOM that I am working on.  I have named these fish for no other reason than they appear to have a personality; today's fish is Esmae.

 

A few months ago I took up the challenge to create a quilt in a Scottish theme, anything I liked with the only pre-requisite being it had to be no smaller than 42" square.  Mine surpassed that by 10" on all sides.  I had fun choosing what to put into the quilt, as with a Scottish theme the ideas were boundless.  Some blocks were 'proper' blocks, while the applique ones were mainly pictures taken from colouring in albums.  This was the first quilt I have ever constructed 'out of my head', and over all I am rather pleased with the result.

"The Heritage of Angus the Piper"

 



Cushions and other stuff

I have been busy sewing towards Christmas ... there is a real feeling of freedom when one actually ticks of all projects.

 

Cushions give great scope to the imagination, the cushion designs all emanated from my own head, which does go to show I do have some creative ability initiative.   

 

 

Recently a tutorial I watched from HGTV Forum gave clear directions as to foundation piecing, and as the subject to be made was a Christmas tree, I gave it a go ... three times.  These trees are an excellent beginning to foundation piecing, though I have done a little before, with much trepidation.

 

Last year I made two cute pincushions and had it in my mind to make another.  Two days of searching through the far too many magazines I have was successful ... the magazine in question was right under my nose; I must have put it aside knowing I would make another 'lady pincushion'.  These are simple to make out of small pieces of fabric; the only real requisite being doll's hair.

 

At the moment I have no pressing sewing ... Yay!!

In readiness for Christmas

In spite of the fact I was laid low for a couple of days with the flu [that visited without invitation!] I have managed to complete a Christmas table runner, or it would be equally suitable as a chair back, or cover for that plastic box of 'stuff' taking up a corner of the room.

 

This is not the first of these 'runners' I have made over the years; one was considerably larger, but they are simple to construct, use 2½" of a fat quarter and a few other pieces of fabric that one often has in their stash.  Add some holly leaves, and berries [red buttons suffice] and the finished result is bright and colourful.

Stitching

The days are flying by and with the advent of warm weather Christmas cannot be too far around the corner.  I have things I hope to make before then! 

 

My big project was the Scottish themed quilt which I will show a photo of at another date. 

 

Two or three years ago I made a Christmas swag from what was then a free pattern and is still available at a reasonable cost here http://www.sewhappy.me/products-page/categories/christmas-stitchery-banner/  I loved the finished swag and this year when it became evident that a Big Family Christmas was on the cards I decided to make another, albeit framing it to suit the room of the recipient.

 

As well I have completed another fish [my name for it is Shy Susie] from http://www.fatcatpatterns.com/bompdf/Wf_11_temps.pdf    This BOM offers free patterns if you download them each month, but they are available for purchase.

 

Several projects are waiting their turn to be completed!!!  The sewing machine cover is seldom on it. 

Small projects

As I have a rather large [and secret at this moment] project on the go I endeavoured to complete all the small BOM's, plus a swap early in the month.  All completed ... which gives me a clear plate to make progress on the secret project. 

 

Here is Spencer the dandy in his electric blue suit.

 

The final block, Shooting Star for Our Craft Forum's 2013 BOM, using blocks selected by participants from The Quilter's Cache   This block was featured as two colours but as I want three colours in this final block I deviated a little.

 

I made this Anni Downs Christmas wall hanging for a swap, once again moving away from the more traditional colour-ways.  [sorry about the photo quality.]

 

 

All in all I am quite pleased with myself!  However the list of projects I would like to complete before the end of the year continues to grow ... as does the fabric stash.